Portable mixing tank



Aug. 10, 1937. F, CRADDOCK 2,089,642

PORTABLE MIXING TANK Original Filed Aug. 15, 1935 2 She ets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. Frederick L. C'ma'drdfi A TTORNEY Aug. 10, 1937. F. L. .CRADDOCK PORTABLE MIXING TANK Original and Aug. 15. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FeakriolfL 6W ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1937 2,d89,642

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFEQE PORTABLE MIXING TANK Frederick L. Craddock, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Mixing Equipment Company Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 15, 1935, Serial No. 36,422 Renewed November 3, 1936 16 Claims. (Cl. 259-109) This invention pertains to mixing tanks dehole 8, having a loose manhole cover 9, and a signed to be used in combination with agitators square hole I is also formed in cover 5, through and associated devices. which the tank 1 may be filled. The bottom 3 is One object of this invention is to provide imstrengthened by means of a reinforcing plate [2, 5 proved devices of this general nature and conprovided with a tapped hole H which is de- 5 sists in the improvement, design, arrangement signed to receive an openable closure means to and/or combination of one or more of contribempty the tank at the will of an operator.

uting factors. An embodiment of my invention A valve 40 for this purpose is shown in Fig. 2, will be described in the following detail descripwith an extension handle 4|, conveniently 1otion. cated outside the tank. 10 Another object of my invention is to provide an The motor housing 4 permits the p ope er improved method of mixing. Specific objects of tator I4 to be mounted low in the tank. It also my invention are to provide improved devices and positions the agitator so that the propeller stream methods particularly suited to the mixing of only has a short distance to flow before striking paint materials and other sluggish viscous mixes. the opposite side of the ank- Thi p m 15 Referring to the accompanying drawings. rapid and thorou h m xin Fig. 1 is a plan view of an improved mixing In Figs. 3 and 6 a propeller agitator I4 is intank combined with a mixer. dicated as mounted on shaft l5 which is jour Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. l. naled in a stuffing box and bearing assembly I6. Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 taken on the line The right hand end of the shaft I5 is provided with a flexible coupling H which is driven from 20 Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the the gear head motor 6. The centre axis of shaft loose manhole cover of Fig. 1 taken on the line I5 is parallel with a d a e of tank I and l4 thereof. spaced from the vertical axis of the tank I a dis- Fig. 5 is a fragment of the device of Fig. 1 taken tance equivalent to the radius of propeller agi- 25 on the line 5-5 thereof. tator I4. This off center positioning of shaft l5 Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragment of the device of causes a slow rotation of the mix in the tank Fig. 3 taken on the line 66 thereof. in addition to the movement thereof in the gen- Fig. '7 is a view on a reduced scale of the device eral direction of the propeller stream.. The acof Fig. 2 supported free of the floor on a lift tual mixing occurs at the member l 4 and in the 30 truck. propeller stream which it creates while the slow Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 of a rotation causes all parts of the mix in tank I modification and to be successively acted upon.

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 taken In Figs. 3 and 6 arrows indicate the general on the line 9 9. direction of the flow of the mix and also show 35 The numeral l indicates a sheet iron paint how the stream of mix from propeller agitator l4 mixing tank which is provided with four legs is made tortuous by bending around the motor 2, widely spaced to support the tank stably on a housing. 4.. This tortuous flow of the mix around floor, made of pipe and secured to the tank I by the motor housing 4, tends to facilitate intimate means of brackets including lower flanges, pref mixing of paint materials and the flexing of the 40 erably of triangular shape, and upper flanges stream, as shown by the arrows, is very effective. and Webs, as indicated. A dished bottom 3 hav- An improved method of mixing results from this ing an upwardly projecting motor housing 4, and arrangement of the bulkhead or motor housing a removable cover 5 are also provided for the 4 as the heavy particles resting on the bottom tank I. are, with its aid, effectively dispersed throughout 45 The housing A. encloses a gear head motor 6, the mix by member l4. mounted on a motor mounting plate 1 which is In Fig. '7 a lift truck I1 is shown resting on a welded to the tank I. Thus the motor 6 does floor l8. Truck I l is provided with a platform not project beyond the adjacent leg 2. It is of 19 which is shown in its up position supporting importance that the motor 6 avoid projecting tank I. When platform I9 is lowered the legs 50 beyond the adjacent leg 2 to eliminate danger of 2 of tank I rest on floor l8 and truck IT can it being damaged by striking obstructions as the be withdrawn for use elsewhere until tank I is tank I is transported from one part of a paint to be again moved from one paint mill to another factory to another. or elsewhere in the factory.

.55 The cover 5 of tank I is provided with a man- It will be noted that the space beneath tank I, between legs 2 is unobstructed so that truck I! fits under tank I, between any pair of its legs 2, which facilitates the transportability of tank I. The lower edge of tank I is formed like a skirt, provided with a reinforcing ring 20 welded to it, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to make tank I strong and rugged enough to be safely picked up and lowered on platform I9 without damage. Thus the bottom of the skirt acts as a foundation, for tank I, on platform I9. 1

It will be noted in the modification of Figs. 8 and 9 that the propeller I40 has the axis of its shaft I intersecting the vertical centre axis of the tank IOI instead of being in the off centre position shown inthe preferred construction of tank I in Fig. 3. This tends to make both sides symmetrical and thus facilitate fabrication of the tank ml of Figs. 8 and 9. However, in order that a slow rotation about the vertical centre axis of the mix in tank IOI may be produced and all parts of the mix successively acted upon and mixed by propeller I40 as they are by propeller agitator I4 in tank I, some auxiliary means is required. The rudder 2I0 which is merely a bent plate welded to bottom 300, of tank IOI is such an auxiliary means. It deflects the lower portion of the propeller stream of the mix as indicated by the arrow near member 300. Rudder 2I0 thus causes a slow rotation of the mix in tank IIiI approximating the slow rotation of the mix in tank I.

The rudder 2I0 causes the mix to rotate slowly around a substantially vertical central axis of tank IOI in a counterclockwise direction. This is opposite to the corresponding slow rotation of the mix in tank I. However, the rudder 2I0 can be reversed in curvature and placed on the other side of shaft I50 if clockwise 'slow rotation of the mix in tank IOI is desired.

By making theinside of the tanks wall unsymmetrical or irregular so that the propeller stream will be deflected to one side of the vertical axis or by distorting the motor housing an equivalent rotation of the mix can be effected.

All these alternative arrangements can be made to produce this same sort of slow rotation of the mix.

The off centre housing 4 of Fig. 3 tends to produce such an effect which is, however, some- .what masked by the more conspicuous efiect re sulting from the off centre axis of agitator I4.

Valve MI in Fig. 9 discharges tank IOI at the will of the operator. 1

In modern paint making artificial materials like, for instance Bakelite resins and oils, are much used and occasionally the pigment, after having been ground in oil to a thick pasty consistency, polymerizes prematurely. This turns the material into a sort of jelly and tends to spoil it for paint- However, if the polymerization is noticed when it starts it can often be arrested by violently mixing the thick pasty material with thinners to the consistency of the ready mixed paint of commerce.

For such contingencies I provide the motor 66 with a normal speed suited to usual requirements and a special high speed about a third or a half faster. A control switch- 40I having an off position contact 402, a normal position contact 403 and a high speed contact 404 controls motor66, for these requirements.

I do not limit 'myself to theexact constr'uction shown for modificationsof this invention may be made in accordance with the progress of the art without departing from the spirit hereof.

I claim:

1. A mixing tank provided with a motor housing extending into and forming a part of the tank whereby a motor may be accommodated without substantial projection outside the tank, a motor therein and a substantially horizontal agitator shaft revolvably mounted at the inner end of the housing, provided with an agitator at its inner end and connected to the motor at its outer end.

2. A mixing tank provided with and including a motor housing, substantially below the normal level of a mix, forming a portion of the bottom of the tank, of such a shape as to baffle and cause a propeller stream to take a tortuous course, a propeller agitatormeans at the inner end of the housing, within the tank, designed to create a propeller agitator stream in the mix and to mix same; the innerend of said housing and said agitator means being adjacent the vertical centre axis of the tank.

3. A mixing tank provided with and including a motor housing substantially below the normal level of a mix, forming a portion of the bottom of the tank, of such a shape as to bafile and cause a propeller stream to take a tortuous course, propeller agitator means at the inner end of the housing, so positioned as to tend to create a propeller stream substantially across the vertical centre axis of the tank, means in the path of said stream to deflect at least a portion thereof horizontally, said stream then being deflected by the opposite wall, so as to flow upwardly and slowly around the vertical centre axis of the tank, then into'the propeller stream and repeat, whereby all parts of the mix tend to be acted upon by the agitator means at one time or another, during a mixing operation.

4. A portable mixing tank provided with a body, widely spaced legs therefor, whereby a truck may be run under the body and between the legs, level means at the edge of the bottom of the tank to provide secure seating on the truck, an agitator having a substantially horizontal shaft, near the bottom of the tank, a motor mounted at the tank in driving relation to the agitator and positioned substantially within a boundary line surrounding the tank and legs.

5. A mixing tank provided with a bottom pitchedtoward a discharge aperture so as to drain thereinto, having an upwardly projecting portion at one side forming a substantially horizontal motor housing, a skirt means provided with a substantially level lower portion at the edge of said bottom, and legs secured to the tank and projecting below said level portion.

6. A mixing tank' provided with a bottom pitched toward a discharge aperture so as to drain thereinto, having an upwardly projecting portion at one'side forming a substantially horizontal motor housi g, a hole in the tank side wall whereby a motor may be inserted into the housing, a skirt means provided with a substantially level lower portion at the edge of 'said bottom, and legs secured to the tank and projecting'below said level portion.

'7. A mixing tank provided with a bottom pitched toward a discharge aperture so as to drain thereinto, having an upwardly projecting portion at one side forming a' substantially horizontal motor housing, an aperture at the outer. end thereof and a floor means in the housing where'- by a motor may be mounted, a skirt means provided with a substantially level lower portion at the edge of said bottom, and legs secured to the tank and projecting below said level portion.

8. A mixing tank provided with a bottom pitched toward a discharge aperture so as to drain thereinto, having an upwardly projecting portion at one side forming a substantially horizontal motor housing, a skirt means provided with a substantially level lower portion at the edge of said bottom, and legs; said tank being substantially in the form of a vertical cylinder and said legs being secured to the tank and positioned so that said legs are fixed substantially outside the circumference of the tank, all of said legs projecting below said level portion.

9. A mixing tank provided with a motor housing extending into and forming a part of the tank, having a narrow upper portion and Widening out at its lower portion where it merges with the tank bottom, whereby a motor may be accommodated without substantial projection outside the tank, a motor therein and a substantially horizontal agitator shaft revolvably mounted at the inner end of the housing, provided with an agitator at its inner end and connected to the motor at its outer end.

10. A portable mixing tank including a dished bottom surrounded by a curved side wall, said wall extending downwardly at a skirt portion, brackets including triangular flanges attached at their sides at said skirt portion, projecting outwardly from same, webs associated with said flanges and downwardly projecting legs at the outer portions of said brackets.

11. A portable mixing tank having a curved side wall and dished bottom, said side wall being provided with a skirt portion having a level lower edge whereby the tank may be supported on a lift truck, brackets projecting outwardly from said skirt portion and widely spaced legs projecting downwardly from the outer ends of said brackets, whereby the tank may be supported on a floor and straddle a lift truck.

12. A portable mixing tank including a dished bottom surrounded by a curved side wall, said wall extending downwardly at a skirt portion, brackets including triangular flanges attached at their sides to said skirt portion, projecting outwardly from same, webs associated with said flanges and downwardly projecting legs at the outer portions of said brackets, adjacent legs being spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to the width of the tank, whereby a lift truck may be accommodated.

13. A portable mixing tank having a curved side wall and dished bottom, said side wall being provided with a skirt portion having a level lower edge, whereby the tank may be stably supported on a lift truck, brackets projecting outwardly from the skirt portion and widely spaced legs projecting downwardly from the outer ends of said brackets, whereby the tank may be supported on a floor and straddle a lift truck, adjacent legs being spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to the width of said tank.

14. The combination of a mixing tank provided with a wall having an internal protrusion, an agitator shaft revolvably mounted in and through a wall of said protrusion, an agitator at the inner end of said shaft, a gear means at the outer end thereof and a motor mounted independently of said shaft and attached to said tank at the outer and lower portion of said protrusion, below said shaft and in permanent driving relation to said gear means.

15. A mixing tank provided with a motor housing extending into and forming a part of the tank, widely spread apart legs, attached to the tank, one of which is positioned substantially below the outer end of said housing, whereby a motor may be guarded by such leg, a motor in said housing and a substantially horizontal agitator shaft revolvably mounted at the inner end of the housing, provided with an agitator at its m inner end and connected to the motor at its outer end.

16. The combination of a tank, a mixing propeller device therein, so positioned as to create a stream of mix across the tank and means for modifying the flow of such a stream, said means including a stream deflector member within, and extending unsymmetrically at least partly across the tank, whereby mixing is promoted and said stream is guided so as to flow around a horizontal axis and slowly around a vertical central axis of the tank before again flowing through the mixing propeller device.

FREDERICK L. CRADDOCK. 

